(CNS News) First Lady Michelle Obama credited the President for putting veterans to work in a speech at a naval station Wednesday. But, government statistics show 239,000 FEWER veterans actually have jobs today.

“As you all may know, last August — I think you saw a video — my husband issued a challenge to American businesses. He challenged them to hire or train 100,000 veterans and military spouses by the end of 2013,” the Michelle Obama told the crowd at Mayport Naval Station in Jacksonville, Florida.

“And so far this year, the number of unemployed veterans is nearly 20 percent lower than it was a year ago. So we are moving in the right direction,” the First Lady added.